Category: DIY Design Tips

I did a quick survey of the major companies that offer free or low cost website builders. Most offer free, easy, fast solutions. But the primary selling point is “beautiful” results. While a website that appears slick is nice it’s not what will drive conversions. It’s honestly the equivalent of the stereotypical airhead. No offense intended if you happen to be blonde.

The truth is a website is only as good as the underlying branding, marketing, and sales strategies. And all three strategies need to be carefully planned and in sync with each other.

Opportunity to Seize Market Share

Most small businesses either don’t recognize or understand the power of taking the time to generate all three strategies. While many more have a vague sense they are missing something but the thought of learning how to generate these strategies is completely overwhelming.

This is a unique opportunity to seize market share from your competitors. The tools for digital branding, marketing, and sales are highly sophisticated and powerful and most are very inexpensive.

The Window is Closing

This opportunity will only last so long as more small business owners start to learn and apply the basics and as the branding, marketing, and sales industries learn how to deliver the services in a format small business owners more readily understand.

Democratizing Branding, Marketing, and Sales

Un-Think Branding is at the forefront of delivering the tools and knowledge startups and small business owners need to implement their own branding, marketing, and sales strategies in a format that works with the unique challenges they face.

I know, it sounds like a shameless pitch for our services. But more importantly I invite you to interact with us in our early stages. Help us make our services and product useful and relevant. Tell us what makes sense to you and where you have gaps in understanding.

At the heart of our business model is supporting the little guys and helping them get on the playing field with the big boys. Let’s go seize more of that market share together.

So I picked up Dale Carnegie’s classic “How to Win Friends & Influence People” the other day. As I am flipping through the table of contents “A Simple Way to Make a Good First Impression” jumps out at me. Huh. I flipped to page 63.

Wanna know the secret? Smile.

Yes, it’s as simple as that. Well that got me to thinking wouldn’t it be interesting to test his idea? On Match.com? So I set up two profiles.

Here is profile 1: Excited to meet new people

Feisty red head who likes to explore new things, travel abroad, can sometimes be a homebody, and family is very important to me. Looking for a companion to enjoy life around town. I am pretty strong at times and at the same time kind and gentle. I need a partner who won’t try to control me but isn’t going to roll over either. I work pretty hard – I am self employed and in the middle of launching a totally new concept. But when work is done I turn it off. COMPLETELY. I love a chance to be silly and also times where I can get all dressed up for a nice night out.

Here is profile 2: I’m Ready to Meet “The One”

I have been through a lot of drama in the last few years. I am ready to settle down and have life go back to normal. I need a man who knows how to take care of a woman and make her feel important. I am not perfect I suppose but who really is? I am looking for an imperfect man but knows how to act like prince charming on occasion.

Day 2: Results

After two short days profile 1 has 7x more views and 3x more likes. Profile 2 seems to be leveling off in interest where as Profile 1 continues to gain momentum.

Day 7: Final Results

I honestly never expected such shocking results! I’d say smiling is a pretty powerful way to make a first impression.

No Smile Views: 89 (after 7 days)

Smile Views: 397 (after 7 days)

So is your brand making the equivalent of a smile?

Make sure the first 3-5 words of each paragraph gives the reader a clear idea of what the whole paragraphs is about. For extra boost bold those first words and consider highlight in a primary color from your brand palette or logo.

Less words is best. Be relentless about editing your content down to the very minimum necessary.

Break up content with sub headings. A reader should be able to get the overall message of the content just from reading the sub headings.